St. Louis - Conference play begins this week in MVC softball, starting with two league games on Tuesday, March 12 (Indiana State-Evansville; Southern Illinois-Missouri State).  By the weekend, all 12 league teams will have started league play.  In the coaches' pre-season poll, UNI was picked as the favorite, earning 10 of 12 first-place votes.  Southern Illinois (2nd) and Missouri State (3rd) were the coaches' second and third picks in the poll.

The initial installment of the NCAA RPI has been released and three MVC programs are in the Top 100, led by Southern Illinois (45).  UNI (71) and Belmont (96) also represent the Conference among the national leaders.  As a conference, the MVC ranks 16th overall, per Warren Nolan.

Southern Illinois enters the week (through games of March 11) with an eight-game win streak.  That ranks 9th-best nationally.

Southern Illinois ranks 33rd nationally and leads the MVC in ERA (2.07).  Murray State (57, 2.49) and Belmont (59, 2.58) also rank among the Top 60 in the NCAA.

UNI (65th, 0.75 per game) and Southern Illinois (70th, 0.74 per game) rank among the NCAA leaders in home runs per game this year.

Murray State's Taylor Jackson has thrown out 13 baserunners, which leads the NCAA this year.  Maddia Groff of Southern Illinois ranks 6th in the NCAA in ERA (0.45).  Groff's four shutouts are seventh-best in the NCAA.  And Jenna Veber of Murray State ranks second nationally in innings pitched (83.1)

Player of the Week - Marah Wood, Evansville
Pitcher of the Week - Maya Johnson, Belmont
Newcomer of the Week - Maddia Groff, Southern Illinois